Into the Unknown, October 17, 2022

Hello everyone! I hope you all are well. 

An interesting week here. Elder Bunnell is preparing to go to Peru on the 31st and I am going home shortly afterwards. So this week we both just felt very unmotivated and tired. We had been going super hard the first weeks together and now we both will be leaving. That hit us this week and we had to hit the restart button. I began to get the fire back on Saturday so I was grateful for that. I also practiced gratitude a lot more this week. That helps so much. More than I think.

Leaving my mission and starting the next life changing event has brought many feelings. I am scared, excited and nervous all at the same time. It is just like when I started my mission. I just had to trust God at that time. So I am learning to trust Him and do all I can to learn and grow. 

Love yall! Elder Spencer 

Permanently In the Choir! October 10, 2022

Hello everyone! I love you all!

This week was super interesting. Elder Bunnell and I both went through tough nights where we were frustrated at each other and didn't talk to one another. I was first and then he was rhe next night haha. On the night I was feeling frustrated I had some things on my mind. I was feeling sad because I didn't want my mission to end. I love my mission so much. I love the people and the gospel. I love Jesus. I have had so many wonderful experiences and I was just not wanting it to end. I was also feeling very inadequate. Like I didn't know enough. While I was in this saddened state the Spirit led me to a song and a talk. The song line that stood out to me was "Jesus Listening can hear the songs I cannot sing." (Hymn 227, There is Sunshine in My Soul Today) Jesus knew what I was going through. The talk was "Songs Sung and Unsung" by Elder Holland. He quoted the hymn a lot in his talk and he said this" On those days when we feel a little out of tune, a little less than what we think we see or hear in others, I would ask us, especially the youth of the Church, to remember it is by divine design that not all the voices in God’s choir are the same. It takes variety—sopranos and altos, baritones and basses—to make rich music" I learned that my voice matters. I can make a difference. I am needed here right now. But I was still concerned about my mission being done soon. I than read this from the talk" Brothers and sisters, we live in a mortal world with many songs we cannot or do not yet sing. But I plead with each one of us to stay permanently and faithfully in the choir, where we will be able to savor forever that most precious anthem of all—“the song of redeeming love.” I can stay in the choir when I finish. I can always show I believe in Christ.

Love yall!

Elder Spencer 

Bearing His Name, October 3, 2022

Hello all! I love you all!

This week we saw many miracles. We had 8 different missionaries in our apartment through the week. It was amazing! We worked super hard in our area and it was great. God is so good and I love Him. 

As a missionary I bear Christ's name on my chest. My family name and His name on my name tag. In General Conference Elder Lund said "I don't have to wear the badge to bear His name." That struck me a lot. Pretty soon I won't be wearing the badge anymore, but I can still stand with Him. I can always choose Christ. 

I invite you to Choose Him. Start with a prayer and reading your scriptures.

Elder Spencer 

Finish Strong! September 26, 2022

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well! 

I am determined to do all I can to help others and invite them to come to Jesus as a missionary. My companion Elder Bunnell is focused and works hard. I am excited! He reminds me a lot of my old companion Elder Buhman! He looks like him and acts like him. It's pretty crazy. 

We set some goals and made some plans for our work this transfer. Those things are important. It is how we can grow. How we stay diligent. 

I got to talk to Elder Cruze one last time before he flew home this week. He came out 6 weeks before I did. He was in my first district. I love him and will miss him. He has the gift of a still small voice. 

I love you all! Elder Spencer 

I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go, September 19, 2022

Transfer news! I am staying in Metfield Ward for my last transfer. I am excited to work hard and finish strong.

Today I had a wonderful Spiritual experience. I was sitting in the back of a car while we were driving to a members house to say goodbye before my companion leaves. We had the windows rolled down and I had my hand out the window enjoying the wind rushing by. The sun was shining and we were going up and down the hills of Bella Vista. We were listening so some music when the song changed to "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go." (Hymn 270 in the hymn book) It was a male singing a solo. The man singing sounded exactly like the elder who was sitting in front of me in the car. I began to sing along to the song and closed my eyes. I payed attention to the words and felt joy. This line stood out to me: "There's surely somewhere a lowly place in earth's harvest fields so wide where I may labor through life's short day for Jesus, the Crucified. So trusting my all to thy tender care, and knowing thou lovest me, I'll do thy will with a heart sincere: I'll be what you want me to be." My mission has felt short. I am trying to trust and love God. Trying to put my will into His. To become. 

I love you. I know miracles happen every single day. 

Elder Spencer 

Receiving Answers, September 12, 2022

Hello all! This week was okay. That is how I would describe it. It's just been a tough week. I am imperfect and was distracted this week. I didn't fulfill my missionary purpose. 

I feel sad because I just want my friends to feel joy. Everlasting joy. Rejection is never easy. It is difficult. I sometimes get sad and discouraged when it doesn't turn out how I imagined it. That is how I felt this week. It felt like all our plans and goals where just not happening. I felt like I failed the people, the Lord and the zone. But it is not about me. It is about God and His great work. His will. His design. His plan. I am but a mere instrument. I am of the dust. Trying to listen and obey my Heavenly King. Diligence and expecting miracles are going to be my focus points the next two weeks. I do find comfort in the scriptures. No one listened to Lehi (1 Nephi 1:20). One person listened to Abinadi (Mosiah 17:2-4). People even left Jesus's side (John 6:66-69, John 18: 2-5). So that definitely helps a lot!

On the upside I had two very specific answers in the scriptures that answered concerns a friend had. It was a miracle. So if you have a concern or question, read the scriptures. Pray and than read. Answers will come. 

Love y'all.

Elder Spencer 

Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy, September 5, 2022

Hello all! This week was rough. But an amazing miracle happened.

I was on an exchange with Elder Smith. I love him so much. He is a good friend and helped me out a lot when I was in the Fort Smith Stake the second time. He is a very good singer and piano player so we have similarities there. We were in the apartment getting ready for the day and I was feeling down. It had been a tough past few days and I didn't feel like doing missionary work. I didn't feel the Spirit. As I was moping about my sorry state at my desk I heard two songs sung by Elder Smith. The first was "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" (hymn 29) that song has special significance for me because I was in the jail that song was sung in before Joseph Smith was killed. I also memorized the words to that hymn in my second area. The second hymn was Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy (hymn 335) I sung that song when the Sherwood Park Alberta stake was formed. Than 4 missionaries sang that song when the Edmonton YSA stake was formed. So it just made me so happy. God's mercy definitely beamed Brightly on me at that time. 

This week was tough because we were rejected. People didn't want to keep commitments. Commitments that I know will bring them joy. I felt frustrated and saddened by this. Sometimes I just wish I could thunder it into people. But all I can do is invite. Than it is up to their choice and God.

Love you all,

Elder Spencer 

God is a God of Miracles, August 29, 2022

I can barely begin to describe how special and amazing this week was. I love being a missionary so much! I love serving the Lord. I love seeing the light turn on in people. I love sacred music. 

We had stake conference this week. For the Saturday evening session I was part of a missionary choir. We sang a missionary melody (4 songs combined into one.) I got choked up when I sang "I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two. I hope by than I will be ready, to preach and teach and work as missionaries do." I realized I am that missionary. I have grown a foot or two. I just felt so much gratitude for the Lord and the many experiences I have had on my mission. I will be sad when it is over. 

The Stake conference miracles kept coming. On Sunday Brother Levin was sustained to be ordained to the office of an elder. He will be able to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and that will be glorious. His wife and two children will be able to be baptized and confirmed by him. What a blessing. 

Joel and Sabrina who we paused teaching 2 weeks ago have been staying in contact with members. We have not made contact because we wanted them to reach out to us. The Elders Quorum President said we should fast for them. We us and some ward members did on Sunday. Than the miracle. 14 minutes after Stake Conference started Joel texted us asking if the meeting was being recorded. We told him it wasn't. Than Sabrina texted saying they were watching it!! Woohoo! We were so excited! They watched the whole thing and literally every talk was meant exactly for them. It was amazing. Than after we were asking them what their favorite part was and stuff and Joel said: Any day you guys can come over this week? We said yes of course! So we are going on Thursday for dinner and a lesson!! What a miracle.

I love yall and this gospel. Have a great week!

Elder Spencer